Wednesday's Earth Day observance should encourage every one of us to leave adequate natural resources for our children and grandchildren by making needed changes in our driving, our shopping, our recycling and our diet.

Yes, our diet. A 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization blamed meat production for 18 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That's more than automobiles! Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

Moreover, meat and dairy production dumps more animal waste, crop debris, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants into our waterways than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force in world-wide deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

Wednesday and every day, let's celebrate Earth Day by replacing meat and other animal products in our diet with a healthful, eco-friendly spread of vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains. More information, including recipes, is available at greenyourdiet.org.

CARL MASON

Concord